JUDGES
Experts from each field will use a special app to judge the three sessions: 「sake tasting」, 「design」 and 「food pairing」
SAKE TASTING SESSION
Shochu and Awamori tasting session will start from 2025!
Sake tasting session will be judged by Sake Sommelier certified by Sake Sommelier Association Italiana, and the shochu and awamori tasting session will be judged by Shochu and Awamori Sommelier holders certified by the same association.
In every session, the majority of Sake Sommeliers work in the food and beverage industry, and includes a wide range of professionals, including wine sommeliers, restaurant owners, chefs, and bartenders.
In order to ensure the quality of the judges, we require them to attend seminars in advance to improve their judging standards and skills.
Please note that we may invite guest judges such as sake experts and educators active in Europe, but this will not be reflected in the scores.
DESIGN SESSION
The design judges will be creators from the design industry who are mainly active in Italy. Specifically, judges will be selected from a wide range of genres, including architects, digital designers, fashion designers, stylists, graphic designers, product designers and photographers, and will evaluate the designs and functionality from every angle. In addition, buyers from department stores and chain stores who actually select the products will also participate, and the judging will be done from the perspective of Italian consumers.
FOOD PAIRING SESSION
In addition to highly experienced Sake Sommeliers, chefs and food critics will also be on hand to judge the awards.
In this way, food specialists will explore new possibilities for pairing Italian cuisine with sakes.
In addition, a special partner will be selected each year (2023: Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Consortium, 2024: San Daniele Ham Consortium, selection in 2025 underway). Official tasters certified by each special partner will review and evaluate the special awards.
